Is watermelon healthy?

This can be the case with watermelon. People know it’s delicious and sweet, but most of us wouldn’t say watermelon is exactly packed with nutrients.

But it is!

Here’s the rundown on watermelon’s healing powers. For starters, watermelon is an excellent source of lycopene. In fact, watermelon’s right up there with tomatoes in terms of lycopene. The lycopene in watermelon is a well-documented inhibitor of many inflammatory processes in the body (Source: whfoods.com), including:

Lycopene is a key nutrient supporting cardiovascular health. It’s responsible for helping lower blood pressure, and it can help prevent heart disease.

Lycopene is an extremely powerful antioxidant that can help prevent and slow the progression of some cancers, including breast and prostate (Source: draxe.com).

Lycopene helps counter oxidative stress of the bones, and can also counteract cell damage in the brain (Source: draxe.com).

Here’s something else about watermelon that might surprise you. Do you ever get sore muscles from exercise? If you do, put down the ibuprofen — which can damage the gut — and reach for some watermelon. Researchers in Spain determined that watermelon had a dramatic effect on post-exercise muscle soreness (Source: nutritionfacts.org).

Move over Viagra…

Now it’s time for the final fun fact. And it’s a good one! Watermelon can help in the erectile dysfunction department. Who knew?

This is because watermelon is naturally high in citrulline, which the body converts to arginine, then nitric oxide (NO). NO then supports better blood flow — all over the body and, yes, “down there.” Fascinating! If you want to learn more, check out bestselling author Dr. Michael Greger’s video on nutritionfacts.org.

One more thing…

This recipe also includes a shot of tart cherry concentrate (such as Cherry Works brand) for an additional antioxidant boost, as well as some natural fruity sweetness.

It’s totally optional, of course. But if you have some sitting around in your refrigerator, now’s the time to put it to good use.

Caveat: I know tart cherry juice concentrate is expensive. The cost is comparable to a nice bottle of wine. Expensive as it is, tart cherry can bring some legit anti-inflammatory power to the body. And, you only end up using a small glug at a time.